China's "Ice city” is Hot in Southeast Asia丨ASEAN Watch

While much of China swelters under scorching summer heat, Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, is drawing visitors with a refreshing contrast, offering a chilly escape with a comfortable 23-degree-Celcius coolness.As the northern hemisphere enters its hottest months, China's "Ice city” is welcoming another heat waves of tourists not just from the rest of the nation, but even from ASEAN countries. Data from Harbin Orange Vacation Travel Service show that the company received a total of 1,300 summer vacationers from Southeast Asian countries in June."May, June, September and October are the peak months for inbound tourism from Southeast Asia," said Wang Hongxin, the company's general manager.  The footsteps of Southeast Asian tourists have knocked on the summer gate of the "Ice City”. The company received over 60 summer vacation groups from Southeast Asian countries in June, marking a year-on-year increase of 30 percent, according to the manager. Bookings for September have already exceeded 100 groups and over 2,000 visitors, with some reservations extending into the end of 2026, he added.With the increasing popularity of Harbin, the customer base is also expanding. In addition to traditional customer sources such as Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, Wang finds emerging markets such as Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines and Laos are also rapidly increasing this summer.The country’s expanded visa-free policy also allows visitors from afar to enjoy their journey with peace of mind. Since February 2024, Singaporeans have been able to stay in China visa-free for up to 30 days, as against 15 days earlier. Malaysia and Thailand have also established mutual visa exemption policies with China, making spontaneous trips a reality.Travel agencies reported that the number of group bookings for flights from Singapore to China in the first half of 2025 matches the total for all of 2024.Data from the Harbin immigration station show that in July, a total of 61,000 inbound and outbound passengers were inspected at Harbin Airport, an increase of nearly 10,000 compared with the number in June and a year-on-year increase of 19.3 percent. Among them, the number of inbound foreign passengers was nearly 10,000, with a year-on-year increase of 15.9 percent."Visitors from Southeast Asia and other regions can now reach Harbin more easily with continuous increase in charter flights, significantly reducing time spent traveling," Wang said. Bringing winter into summer, Harbin Ice and Snow World Park remains a popular destination even though it is no longer the official ice and snow season. Its indoor pavilion, maintained at -10 C, features nine themed areas and 19 attractions that blend urban culture, artistic creativity and ice-themed innovations.Visitors can explore ice sculpture exhibits, displays on the history of the Asian Winter Games and European-style streetscapes. Simulated snowfall, a giant slide and figure skating performances add to the immersive experience.Yet, Harbin has much more to offer. For some, an authentic experience with China's bathhouse culture is worth the trip. In northeastern China, bathhouses are more than places to relax — they are social hubs. The tradition of "scrubbing "in bathhouses, where guests are meticulously cleaned and massaged, is quite an exotic “adventure” for those living in tropical regions.Watching Siberian tigers casually pacing in Heilongjiang Northeast Tiger Forest Park, touching ice sculptures in the Ice and Snow World, and eating “guobaorou” (crispy fried pork in sweet and sour sauce), these all become the most vivid "Harbin memories" of ASEAN tourists.After enjoying their time in Harbin, many vacationers extend their itineraries to areas further north, such as Yichun and Mohe. A chartered tourist train, named "Yichun", offers guests an extraordinary experience aboard one of the best-quality trains dedicated to sightseeing in the country. Bookings for the tourist train have been scheduled until the end of 2026.From the forest oxygen bar in Yichun to the exotic streets and lanes in Harbin, these guests from afar are measuring the diverse charm of Heilongjiang with their footsteps.These Mandarin-, Cantonese-, and Hokkien-speaking tourists in Southeast Asia, have then shared their experiences in English on social media platforms such as Xiaohongshu, TikTok and YouTube, broadening the appeal to non-Chinese-speaking communities.Local travel agencies are even hiring students from ASEAN who have stayed and loved the city, while travel agencies are also busy going abroad to market the city and secure business orders. Southeast Asian customers not only asked about winter tours, but also expressed interest about our summer offerings, said the manager of a Harbin-based international travel agency.Harbin has ignited a fervor for ice and snow tourism on Chinese social media this winter, since the opening of the 41st Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival on Jan 5. Then in February, the 9th Asian Winter Games marked yet another major ice and snow celebration in all of Asia.The city greeted over 90 million visitors in 2024-2025 winter season, with Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea and Indonesia being the top 5 sources of international arrivals. From January to June this year, Harbin welcomed 87 million tourist visits, indicating an all-time travel season for the city.Harbin, once known globally as a winter wonderland, is now redefining its allure under the summer sun—proving that its charm is no seasonal fluke, but a year-round symphony of contrasts. This "Ice City" has unlocked a new chapter, where the warmth of its hospitality meets the cool of its summers, and where every footstep from Southeast Asia leaves not just a memory, but a bridge between latitudes.